Next Ascent vs RouteGoat
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Next Ascent
Discover climbing destinations worldwide with detailed maps, GPS navigation, and high-definition topos. Access comprehensive route descriptions, area history, and first ascent information for crags and bouldering spots. Download complete guidebooks for popular climbing areas.
- Real-time maps and GPS navigation
- High-definition topos and pictures
- Detailed route descriptions
- Crag and bouldering area information
- Downloadable guidebooks
- Route and area history
- First ascent information
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Next Ascent Guidebooks, rock climbing guidebook app is the most comprehensive rock climbing and bouldering app available. Real-time maps, GPS, and navigation guide you to crags all over the world. Hi-def topos, pictures, and the most detailed route descriptions available are what sets this app apart from the rest. Download complete guidebooks for the most popular climbing destinations. This rock climbing app will get you the most information you can find on local crags, bouldering areas, and climbing destinations. Expect to see arial drone topos, route and area history, first ascent information, and detailed descriptions of every route. End User License Agreement: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
RouteGoat
Discover climbing routes efficiently with this app. It helps you find the best paths for your climbing adventures. Get ready to explore new routes faster.
- Find climbing routes
- Route discovery
- Climbing assistance
- Quick route finding
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Route Goat helps you find climbing routes quicker
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: RouteGoat at 100% against Next Ascent's 50%. RouteGoat also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 10). Next Ascent's advantage is ratings volume (8 vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Next Ascent sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. RouteGoat asks for nothing beyond the download.
RouteGoat holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 2 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Next Ascent's written reviews are positive against 100% of RouteGoat's.
Next Ascent ships an update every 2 months, RouteGoat monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Next Ascent | RouteGoat |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (8 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 8 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 64 MB | 121 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Next Ascent, LLC | John Battle |
Customer experience
Next Ascent
RouteGoat
In-app purchases
Next Ascent
- Next Ascent Pro Monthly$9.991 Month
- Next Ascent Pro Annual$59.991 Year
- FE Walter Guidebook$9.99
- The Garden Bouldering Guide$9.99
- Mocanaqua Climbing Guidebook$12.99
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- Mocanaqua Bouldering Guidebook$12.99
- Carver Bouldering Guidebook$12.99
- Smith Rock Climbing Guide$14.99
- Swan Falls Bouldering Guide$14.99
- Sugarloaf Climbing Guidebook$17.99
RouteGoat
No in-app purchases
